Before I begin my talk I want to thank the Veterans in the audience for their service.
Good morning brothers and sisters. I would like to start off with a story many of you have heard before. The story of Joseph Smith, but I'm starting after the sacred grove. When Joseph first heard and found the plates, he was told he had to wait a certain amount of time before he could even touch or read them. He had to be taught and had to therefore endure, which is what my talk is about today. That is just one of the many accounts of endurance in the gospel. There is a scripture in Isaiah that goes along well with endurance. Isaiah 29:13-14 "Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid." Now for many of you like Bishop Pace that probably went over your head, but to me it is saying that if you give heed to what the Lord is telling you and listen well, he will bring forth a marvelous work among us to do, but in order to be able to do as such we have to endure through those rough days and those days where we feel hopeless. I would like you to imagine with me for a moment that you are a well renowned artist. Your are working on a painting and you have been working very hard on and intricate part of the painting. When you step back and look at your work you realize you have made a mistake and it no longer looks how you want it to. What do you do? Satan would tell you to give up, quit the painting, throw it out and never paint again. What would the Lord tell us? 2 Nephi 31:19-20 says: "And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay: for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save. Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." Let's take a closer look at what I think is the most important part of that scripture. "Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ and endure to the end behold ye shall have eternal life." It isn't saying just have a little bite here and there, it is saying feast, eat a lot and enjoy it. So let's go back to the painting now. Let's say we chose to ignore Satan and endure through the hardship and we use our mistake, we change the painting and it becomes something different, better.
I now want to share some stories about how I have endured and the good influences in my life that have helped me get through hard times. My Junior year of school was probably the hardest year I have had. One Sunday I walked into church in Hurricane and Thomas (Christiansen) saw that I wasn't my normal self. After Sacrament Meeting he pulled me aside with his bright smiling face and asked me how things were and how I've been. He sat and listened to what I had to say being that friend that I need. He then turned me to a few talks about endurance and spiritual strength, and said: "I can feel and know that you're hurting but I know that you will become a great missionary and a spectacular person." Ever since then I have looked up to him and strive to be a light, like him, to other people. My struggles didn't end their though. I later fell into a dark place where I wasn't supposed to be, but along came my friend Josh (Lemmon). We had been swimming buddies for awhile and he became a really good friend and helped me get through that dark time. I testify that if we endure to the end we will be blessed. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Josh Lemmon & Wyatt
Cousin Rilee & Wyatt
Wyatt with Thomas & Dave Christiansen
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